On Philanthropy: Revealed - Milwaukee Philanthropists Secretly Wish to Be Ordinary!

Time to nominate the area’s top donors, volunteers and community-builders

Contributed by AFPSEWI
Milwaukee Business Journal
May 18, 2018 issue

The scene:  last November’s National Philanthropy Day celebration in Milwaukee. 

There I sat, in the crowd of 600-plus diners, listening to heartwarming thank-yous as our area’s leading philanthropists and volunteers received awards from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

I tried to put myself in their shoes, imagining how such public acclaim for altruism, generosity, and community commitment must be like a dream come true for the honorees.

Then suddenly it struck me:

The real dream-come-true for these people is not to receive an award.  As selfless builders of community, their real dream-come-true would be for their generosity to be the rule rather than the exception.

I bet those who receive awards on National Philanthropy Day 2018 will secretly wish others were receiving them as well.  But let’s honor them anyway -- because applauding such selfless humanitarians is the best way I know to inspire more people to follow their example.

Please help:  nominate someone you know to receive an award.  Awards are given to exemplary donors, to organizations and corporations who give back, to leading volunteers and fundraisers, and to enterprising youth whose philanthropic efforts show us that tomorrow is in good hands.

Visit the Association of Fundraising Professionals at www.afpsewi.org/2018awards for award descriptions and nomination materials.

Then join me for on November 13 for this year’s luncheon.  We’ll hear gracious thanks from people who secretly hope they’ll be in the crowd with you and me next year, cheering on others who were inspired to do even more.

On Philanthropy appears monthly in the Milwaukee Business Journal and is contributed by Doug Diefenbach for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter.